A great story on npr today from Laura Lorson (Kansas Public Radio) about politics and democracy and the role of the individual therein.  Great analogy to the church, and the natural give-and-take we must expect of each other if we’re to stay together.  As you listen, ask yourself, ‘what am I willing to let go of for the greater good?’

Get the story here.

Traditionally people have given up things for Lent. Last year in the Diocese of Liverpool many parishes took part in a Carbon Fast. Through it we were able to focus on God’s Earth and its poorest people in whom, Jesus said, we were to find him.

This year, in Lent 2008, we invite as many as can to join us in a Carbon Fast.  See the rest of the story and the daily practices here.

Join other young couples from Holy Trinity and St. John’s Cathedral for a night out on the town this Saturday, February 9th, in honor of Valentine’s Day. Dinner is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Italian Kitchen (113 N. Bernard), followed by dancing and cavorting at the Big Easy. Couples with children are asked to find their own childcare. To RSVP and get more information, call Diane Southworth at 509.230.7658.

While the Kendall Yards project has received most of the publicity for it’s commercial and residential development along Bridge Street in the West Central neighborhood, there are also other publicly funded community development projects slated for the year ahead, most notably a community development block grant (cdbg) comprised of both state and federal dollars. The project will focus on Broadway between Maple and Oak streets and may, funds permitting, stretch further west toward Walnut street in the future.

The neighborhood is currently without any decent business core that attracts both people and dollars — like the Garland District to our north and the Cannon/Pacific block in Browne’s Addition to our south. There are several social hotspots closer to the Broadway/Monroe block, which serve many of the folks who pass through the County facilities, but commercial space west of the civil district is primarily loaded with legal service offices. Diversifying the business climate west of Maple will add West Central to the Spokane map as a must-see district, rather than a must-avoid district, as its rather unfair and ruthless moniker “felony flats” implies.

A new day is dawning for Spokane’s West Central neighborhood, and this combination of private (kendall) and public (broadway) projects is, indeed, an outward and physical sign of an inward and spiritual reality — or, as the church would say, a ’sacrament.’ Add to that business mix the very proactive culture of neighborly care and concern in West Central, and you’ve got a fairly good recipe for responsible community development. The churches, public schools, and social service agencies are all at the table together, thoughtfully considering the cost/benefit ratios of development in the area — asking the basic question, “how can the future of West Central be good for everyone?”

Read the whole story on the Broadway project here.
Read more about the Kendall Yards project here.
Read more about the West Central neighborhood here.

Join us Tuesday evenings in Lent for community eucharist, soup supper, and learning. Over the course of six Tuesdays, beginning February 12th from 6-8pm, those interested are invited to join together as a community of faith to nourish each other and to be nourished by the eucharist and the stories from the lives of the saints. Each evening will also include a simple soup supper. There is no cost for this event.

The basic outline for the program is as follows (saints to be selected by presenters):

Week 1: February 12th — early church (50’s - early 300’s)
Week 2: February 19th — imperial church (early 300’s - early 400’s)
Week 3: February 26th — missionary church (400’s - 900’s)
Week 4: March 4th — medieval church (1000’s - 1400’s)
Week 5: March 11th — reforming church (1500’s - 1700’s)
Week 6: March 18th — modern church (1800’s - 2000’s)

During this season in which we reground ourselves in our shared experience as Christians over the centuries, it makes good sense to hear from the lives of those who’ve gone before and to ask of them: who were they? where were they? what was happening in their time and place? what was their unique contribution to the church/world? what do they have to say to us today?

The weeks don’t necessarily build on each other, so come to as many as you’re able, even if you’re not able to make them all.

Questions? Want to help present a saint or provide supper? Contact Fr. Paul at 509.326.6471 or paul@trinityspokane.org.

See you there!

Join us in the Holy Trinity parish hall on Tuesday, February 5th, beginning at 6pm for a celebration of Mardi Gras — or Fat Tuesday — or Shrove Tuesday, as it’s called in the church because of its association with pre-Lenten confession. The traditions associated with this feast day all relate to the old practice of getting all the good, rich foods out of the house in anticipation of the 40-day pseudo-fast of Lent.

While many will be turning those good, rich things into pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, we at Holy Trinity will be turning them into vegetarian red beans and rice, chicken and sausage gumbo, and king’s cake. Come prepared to celebrate in true mardi gras style with masks, beads, and gold coins. Suggested donation to help cover the costs of this fine meal is $5/person or $10/family of four.

Beginning at 8pm, the young adults will take over the adults-only portion of the evening. Come eat, dance, play, and be merry!

Feel like you need some religion after a long night of celebrating? Come back first thing on Wednesday, February 6th @ 7am to observe the feast of Ash Wednesday and receive the imposition of ashes on your forehead. As the day’s prayer bids,

“Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness.”

While the season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, is certainly a season of introspection and increasing awareness of our alienation from God and each other (a reality we call ’sin’), it is also most certainly a season during which we celebrate the unfathomable mercy of God, whose love for us is a constant ‘no’ to every roadblock we try to place between this life and the New Life we’re promised by faith.  And when we “remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return,” we find ourselves to be in radical solidarity with the rest of creation, which receives its existence and meaning and purpose as a gift from God.  Come see what repentance (’turning around’) might mean for you.  Try it on for a season and see what happens when you can get over yourself and get on with living!

Lent is also a season traditionally set apart for the preparation of individuals for baptism.  If you’ve never been baptized, or if you’d like to make an intentional re-affirmation of your baptismal vows, please be in touch with Fr. Paul.

Questions? Call Fr. Paul at 509.326.6471 or e-mail at paul@trinityspokane.org.

All are welcome — so bring a friend or two. See you there!

Bishop Waggoner will be with us this Sunday, January 20th to preach and preside at the 10am worship service.   As part of his annual visit to Holy Trinity, the bishop will be available for informal conversation during the morning coffee hour and will meet with the bishop’s committee for a noon soup lunch in the church sacristy/office.  Come and offer Bishop Waggoner a warm welcome and hear his words of encouragement for our life and ministry.  Hope to see you there!

Join other West Central folks to celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Neighbors will gather at 9am on Monday, January 21st at Salem Lutheran — 1428 W. Broadway.   After a gathering song and prayer, and a few words from the Rev. Happy Watkins, we’ll head out on our march into downtown Spokane to join the city-wide celebration at the Opera House, which begins at 10am.  Here from local civic leaders and pastors, then join the short march through downtown.

Join us on Saturday, January 19th @ 6:30pm in the Sanctuary of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church for an evening of beautiful acoustic music from this great new California duo, Chanson du Soir.  The proceeds of this concert will be Anna Ogden Hall, a program of the Union Gospel Mission for women in transition and located in the West Central neighborhood.  Suggested donation is $10, but we’re pleased if your generosity moves you to give more.  That said, no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

As passion guides them Chanson du Soir, creates an atmosphere of intensity and intimate beauty.  They present a unique repertoire that is at once technically refined and emotionally engaged.  This January, Chanson du Soir will be appearing in Seaview, Aberdeen, Spokane, and Corvallis.  Don’t miss your chance to be enriched by their magnificent music.

Chanson du Soir is comprised of soprano Chelsea Camille and classical guitarist David Isaacs. Established in 2005, the Southern California natives, have quickly garnered national recognition as a premier guitar and voice duo by being featured artists on concert series throughout the United States. In April of 2007, Melancholie et Espoir, their debut studio recording, was released on Abet Music and has been receiving airplay on KIRN in Los Angeles, on Dayton Public Radio’s “The Intimate Guitar,” and on KCBX’s “La Guitarra” in Central California.  Chanson du Soir is in the midst if their third extensive US tour.

Chanson du Soir’s current program spans the centuries from the Renaissance to the 20th Century while traversing four languages. This intense set includes: Renaissance fare from light to haunting by John Dowland, a couple of sweet songs from the plays of Shakespeare, several poignant verses of The Divan of Moses Ibn Ezra by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, a delightful trio of songs from Simone Mayer’s obscure opera Adelasia ed Aleramo set by 19th century guitar virtuoso Mauro Giuliani, the entrancing “Bachianus Brasileiras No. 5″ arranged by Heitor Villa-Lobos, a delicious art song by Ernesto Cordero, and music dedicated to Chanson du Soir by masterful new composer, Brian Madigan.

“You guys are great! Your musicianship, commitment and enthusiasum are thoroughly evident. Terrific program, too.”
- Gregory Newton, DMA, Faculty, Los Angeles City College & Glendale College, President, American Guitar Society, Director, AGS International Concert Series, Board of Directors, Guitar Foundation of America

“True music lovers of all ages enjoyed an enchanted evening with Chanson du Soir. David’s classical guitar performance was well played and rich sounding. Chelsea’s angelic soprano voice touched the heart strings of those who attended this spectacular concert. Together, they wove a beautiful musical tapestry. Their performance left the audience spellbound… we wish they could have played for hours!”
- Patti Davis, Library Services Coordinator, Eckhart Public Library, Auburn, IN

“You make a terrific team!  Your program was thoughtful and balanced. The pairing of the Tedesco and the Dowland was an especially fine match.  Chelsea, you are quite a versatile and powerful singer.  Your singing was precise and emotionally powerful throughout; David’s accompaniment wonderfully complimented the delicacy and intensity of your vocal lines….you (together) captured the spirit and passion of the music.”
- Peter Zisa, guitarist

On January 12, 2008, from 9:30am to 3:30pm, the Cathedral will be hosting for the Diocese and community a workshop entitled “Celebrating the Eucharist for the Life of the World.”  The event will be organized around the following questions:

Eating and drinking with Jesus:

What can we know about the meal practice of Jesus? Why did his table manners get him into trouble? Did his meal practice actually lead to his death?

Sharing the body and blood of Christ:

Is our understanding of the Eucharist too small?   What do we request and receive in the Eucharist?

Eucharistic ethics in a hungry world:

What does the Eucharist tell us about the world in which we live?

To what does the Eucharist lead us:  To heaven or the world?
Who and what interprets the meanings of the Eucharist for us?

The presenter is Dr. Samuel Torvend, a Dominican priest who is Chair of the Department of Religion at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA.

In addition to this workshop, Dr. Torvend will lead the Sunday Seminar on Jan. 13 at 10:10 a.m. in
the Great Hall, and preach at the 11:00 a.m. service.

Registration for the workshop and lunch should be in by Jan. 6.  Cost  for the workshop (including lunch) is $10 per person.  Forms can be picked up in the Cathedral Office or information can be called in to the cathedral office at 838.4277.